My experience is personal having taken statins for approximately 40 years and clinical being a general medical practitioner MD from 1977 -2014 in private practice and VA. True severe side effects such as muscle enzyme changes are quite rare. Complaints of muscle pain that have seemed truly related to the drug are uncommon perhaps 5-10% many of these will do fine with drug or dose change. Personally I have taken Pravachol, Lipitor ,Zocor and Crestor over the years honestly mainly related to the availability of samples. I have also changed around because of my perceived muscle aches and taken drug holidays for months to see if they went away and was not able to percieve a difference. My cholesterol would be about 260 and LDL of 160 without the medication and with present Crestor 20mg LDL is less than 90 and total 140-150. I have not taken Aspirin regularly with stomach concerns. Scans I have had done for other reasons do show moderate atherosclerosis but I have no clinical vascular disease so far. I believe the statins have saved and prolonged lives for the great majority including myself. The COQ-10 is probably a good idea but I can't say it made a difference for me in using it the past several years. Statins are powerful medications and should be monitored reasonably but not feared. Muscle effects or symptoms do occur but have been magnified by placebo effect, fake news and the medico-legal groups.
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